Who needs a fast life?

races ahead of me and leaves me behind? What is at the end of the race? Who determines the pace of the race? Why is it so important to join the race?

The values we learned as we were growing up came from the home and the school. Today, a lot comes from the outside world and that is where the problem starts. Everyone wants to keep up with the Joneses. By the way, whatever happened to this famous Jones family some people want to keep up with? Did they survive the stresses and the ulcers that came with the hustle and bustle of a fast-paced life?

Let me remind you of a story you may have heard before. It’s about a big truck and a small car. Both vehicles were going up a mountain and the small car was ahead by a mile. Pretty soon the big truck lumbered by and in a moment of jest said, “Hey, friend, how about a race uphill?”

With good humor, the little car answered, “You go ahead. I will eventually get there.”

Lunchtime found them both at a diner’s inn. The big truck was on its way out while the little car had just arrived. Again the big truck couldn’t resist a tease. “What took you so long?”

Good nature in the little car prevailed and it calmly answered, “Oh there were things along the way I couldn’t resist looking at.”

Toward dusk, the little car caught up with the big truck. Its driver was throwing expletives to the wind. It seems the engine of the truck got overheated and also its clutch needed a replacement. Instead of jeering, the little car asked, “Can I help?” The truck snorted and said, “You? How can you when you are so slow?”

“True, but I reached you, didn’t I? Besides, I paced myself, enjoyed the sights and now I’m sure I will reach the mountain top ahead of you.” This line ends my story. Need I say more?

Today we are told that we have to upgrade our cell

One often hears this statement: "You have to get into the fast–paced life, otherwise you get left behind." I have my questions to deal with that belief. Just who exactly

phones, computers, iPads, etc. Some people even need to change their partners without any thought of fidelity. Why? Because everybody is doing it and you might just get left behind. What irony!

“Hurry, hurry, hurry" seems to be the password for employees, especially in the corporate world. We seem to have forgotten the joy of leaning over a picket fence and exchanging stories with our neighbor.

Some of us do not even know our neighbors. Rarely do we now play bridge, gin rummy or monopoly with the family. We have given up all the little joys in exchange for golf sessions to clinch a deal or tennis-politics with the boss where the boss must win.

How many of us are out traveling to distant lands, like Hong Kong, Singapore, India, China, etc., because corporate transactions are made there? Many claim that life is a rat race. So why be a rat?

Oh, I am not against progress but why waste precious time on goals that may not be the same goals that your family may want to attain?

A rich man once asked, “Now that we have all the comfort and the money we need, why are we drifting apart?”

The wife answered, “We did not move away, honey, you did .You drifted away from us a long time ago.”

The choice on how to live one’s life should really be given enough thought while one is young. After spending a lot of time hustling to get ahead, remember that the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow may be fool’s gold (the name given to iron pyrites, which looks a little like gold). The real pot of gold can only be found in your heart where your love, your integrity and your strength of character lie.

Life does not want to pass by anyone. Life relishes what gifts we receive to make our eyes open wide in wonder. How can anyone enjoy running a race that is so fast-paced we may not even reach the finish line because along the way we stumble?